Page 73 of Broken

“He didn’t come with me.”

He curses.

“Is Kate here?”

Nero nods. “Yeah.”

Saying nothing else, we head up the stairs. It takes a lot to allow Nero ahead of me. I’m worried about Phoenix, but can’t break etiquette. Getting embroiled in some kind of bitching about it won’t help me or my best friend right now.

Shouting comes from the bedroom and the sound of crashing. We don’t bother looking at one another as we rush that way. The door to the furthest bedroom from the stairs is wide open. A woman shrieks and my friend yells. The unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh comes next.

Nero gets there ahead of me, but only by a second. I take it all in as the Prez barges into the room. Phoenix is grapplingwith a brother who is only wearing his jeans, which are barely hanging on to his ass. His mom is standing in the corner, holding something over her front to hide her naked top half.

There are lines of coke on the cabinet behind her. Despite her screeching, her eyes are unfocused. Phoenix is roaring as he lays into the guy. Nero and I both move at the same time. Unspoken, I go to Phoenix, while Nero takes his club member.

I’m happy to see Phoenix has fared better than the other guy, but he is going to have a shiner, and his eyebrow is bleeding. The rage on his face is shocking, but understandable.

No one wants to walk in on their mom getting high and fucking some random bastard. It’s a struggle, but I wrap my arms around his torso and bend my elbows up under his arm pits, effectively locking his arms in the air. He pushes back and tries to pull out of my grip, but I’ve got him in an unbreakable hold.

Nero has the other dude by the throat up against the wall. His pants have lost their battle and are now halfway down his legs. It’s preventing him from getting away. Not that Nero is letting him. It only takes a moment for him to figure out who has him by the throat.

“Let me fucking go!” Phoenix roars.

Using my knee against the back of his thigh, I swing him around, so he is facing away from what is going on. Nero is yelling all kinds of shit at the other guy. His mom is now leaning back against the wall, her eyes glassy. Looking everywhere but at her son.

“Stop,” I say into Phoenix’s ear. He’s still fighting to get away from me. I repeat my order and say his name a few times before it finally sinks in who has hold of him. He immediately stops struggling.

His voice is lower when he speaks. “Let me go, Garrett.”

“You good?”

He turns his head away from me to look at his half-brother and the man, who now has another cut on his lip. His body tenses again, then he loosens up.

“I let you go, you back off.”

“Fucking asshole was giving her drugs.”

“Can you stay back?” I say in a calming tone. He’s in a manic state and me reacting the same way won’t help the situation at all.

“Fuck,” he spits out. “Fuck!” the shout startles his mom.

She lets out a small shriek before losing her footing and sinking to the floor.

“Mom.”

When he struggles this time, I let him go. Standing back, I watch as he takes three large strides across the room and crouches down in front of her. He tugs off his shirt and helps her into it, careful not to let anyone see her naked.

“Baby, don’t be mad,” she cries.

“It’s okay, mom. We’re getting out of here, okay? Let me help you up.”

The gentle way he speaks to her and helps her to her feet is fucking heartbreaking. The fight is forgotten. He wants to protect her.

“It was only one time. Just a little. I needed it, baby. You understand that, right?”

Phoenix speaks soothing words to her as he guides her out of the room. He doesn’t spare a glance at anyone else. I’m not offended. He’ll talk to me when he is in a better headspace.

Nero won’t get that. Phoenix will blame him for letting his mom hang around here. And for the men he oversees giving her more drugs.

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